Photographic printing easel



April 8, 1941. Q FAsslN 2.237.730

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING EASEL Filed Feb. 2.7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 52 sol1 l 53 SN? /sl /32 s Q 65 54/ 29= i=--3o `4 4 I L58 l 45 58 -55 Q aE-M--sl '6/ Q 65 s s S8 es #A JA 56 INV NTOR FIGS April 8, 1941. Q FAsSlN2.237.730

PHo'roGRAPHIc PRINTING BASEL Filed Feb. 27, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y V 7m t F|G.7 28 27 hr4 n I IIA-fill FIG. IO

@VENTOR LLA/)YM AMW l Patented pr. 8. 1941 UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFIEPHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING BASEL Gustave Fassin, Irondequoit, N. Y., assignerto International Industries, Inc.,

Ann Arbor,

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to photography and more particularly to aneasel for photographic printing or enlarging.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved easel for positioning and holding a photo-sensitive sheet.Another object is to provide a photographic printing easel on which thephoto-sensitive sheet may be accurately located and masked. A furtherobject is to provide a. photographic printing easel with aself-contained optical system for focussing.' These and other objectsand advantages reside in certain novel features of construction,

arrangement and combination of parts as will hereinafter be more fullyset forth and out in the appended claims,

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a photographic printing easel embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a. bottom view of my easel.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig, 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one positioning member.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 'l-l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the other positioning member.

Fig. 9 is an end view thereof.

Fig. l() is a plan view of the focussing sheet.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the drawingswherein l5 designates a substantially rectangular base having a at metalplate i6 suitably secured thereto by screws ll for receiving aphoto-sensitive sheet such as a sheet of projection printing paper. Twobrackets I8 and I9 are suitably secured on the bottom of the plate i6,within the base l5 as, for example, by welding or soldering. Thesebrackets i8 and I9 are preferably positioned one on each side of thecenter of the plate i6 adjacent one wall of the base l5. Within the basei5, is a long, U-shaped track having two legs and 2i with their freeends bent outwardly at 22 and 23 and pivotally mounted in the bracketsI8y and i9 respectively. A carriage 24 is provided with two parallelgrooves 25 and 26 for receiving the parallel legs 20 and 2| of thetrack. A resilient plate 21 is suitably secured on the carriage 24 byscrews 28 and bears frictionally against the legs 20 and 2l to retainthe carriage 24 in any selected position on the track.

The carriage 24 is formed with two upstanding lugs 29 and 30 whichextend above the surface of the plate I6 through two parallel slots 3land pointed 32 respectively, as shown in Fig, 2. A leaf spring 33 issuitably secured at one end to the bottom of the plate i6 by welding,soldering or the like, and lts free end engages under the closed end 34of the track. The lugs 29 and 35 are thus resillently urged upwardthrough the slots 3l and 32.

A second pair of brackets 35 and 36 are suitably on the bottom of theplate i5 at one side of the U-shaped track. A second track 3l, havinglegs 3B and 39 bent inwardly at 4i) and 4i and pivotally mounted in thebrackets 35 and 36 respectively, extends from a point near the leg 2i toWard the side wall of the base i5. This track 3l is substantiallyperpendicular to the legs 2i) and 2i and is preferably located beneaththe transverse center of the plate i6. A carriage 42 is provided with agroove 43 for receiving the track 3l and a resilient plate 44 is securedon the carriage 42 to frictionally engage the track 3l. An upstandinglug 45 extends upward beyond the surface of the plate l5 through a slot4l, as shown in Fig. 2. A rod 48 is secured across the legs 33 and 3Sand a leaf spring 49, secured at one end to the plate I6 engages underthe cross rod 48 and urges the lug 45 upward through the slot 4l.

Two blocks 50 and 5l are secured on the outside of one of the sides ofthe base i5 and pivotally receive the inturned ends 52 and 53 of aframe. This frame consists of two side arms 54 and 55 and a cross arm 55and extends around the base l5 outside of the limits of the plate I6. Apair of parallel, in-dependently movable, masking plates 58 and 59 areadjustably mounted on the arm 55 and extend across the plate i6, while asecond pair of masking plates 60 and 6|, adjustably mounted on the arm56, extend across the plate I8 perpendicularly to the plates 58 and 59.The mechanism for attaching these masking plates to the arms is the samefor each plate and only one such mechanism will be described. As shownin Fig. 4, the masking plate 58 is suitably xed to a block 62 which hasa groove 53 in its bottom surface for receiving the side arm 55. A screw64, having an enlarged head 55, projects through a hole 56 in the plate5B and block 62 and is threaded into a block 6l. This block 51 has agroove 68 in its upper face to receive the side arm 55. Upon tighteningthe screw 54, the two blocks 52 and 6l are drawn together and the sidearm 55 is clamped in the grooves 63 and 68, thus locking the maskingplate 58 on the side arm 55.

1n the operation of the locating mechanism of my new easel, the lugs 29and 3@ and the lug 35 are moved longitudinally of their respective slotsuntil they are in the desired position to locate the edges of the paperor other photo-sensitive sheet. The masking strips 5B, 5%, E@ and @l arethen set to mask the paper to the desired extent and are locked againstmovement on the frame. A sheet of paper is then placed on the plate I6so that its edges engage the three lugs 29, 30 and d5 and the framecarrying the masking strips is pivoted down against the plate l. Thelugs 29, 30 and 65 yield under the pressure of the masking strips 58 and6I so that the masking strips press the paper fiat against the plate It.In this way, the operator is always insured of a controllable anduniform border on his enlargements. Of course scales can be provided onthe plate i6 for setting the lugs and strips.

To insure proper seating of the frame, two blocks 69, having taperedtops, are attached one on each side of the base I5. When the frame isbrought down to press the paper against the plate i6, the side arms 563and 55 engage the tapered tops of the blocks 69 and the frame andmasking plates are thus automatically centered.

The plate I6 is formed with a central aperture l and a window of glassor other transparent material ll is xed in this aperture l0 so that itstop surface is flush with the top surface of the plate it. A rectangulartube l2 is attached to the plate IG -by a bracket 13. This tube iswithin the base l and extends from beneath the aperture 'lll to a holeTl in' one side of the base l5. The tube 'l2 is preferably positionedalong the center of the plate I8 between the legs of the U-shaped track.The tube 'l2 has an opening l5 directly beneath the aperture 'i8 and areiiector 'i6 suitably secured in the tube l2, directs light enteringfrom this opening l5 along the axis of the tube l2. An objective lens 'His suitably fixed in the tube 12 adjacent the reflector 76.

A right angle sleeve i8 is suitably fastened in the open end of the tube72 outside of the base l5 and a field lens 79 is fixed in the sleeve 'I8within the tube 72. A reflector 8B attached to the sleeve 78 directslight from the field lens 'i9 upward to an eye lens 8l. This eye lens 8lis secured in a cap 82 which is threaded into the topof the sleeve 18.The cross arm 56 of the frame is bent at 83 to prevent interferencebetween the frame and the sleeve 18.

In order t0 insure focus of the image in the plane of the sensitizedsurface of the printing paper, a sheet 84 of transparent material suchas glass or lm base, having the same thickness as the printing paper, isplaced on the plate I6 over the aperture 1|. 'I'his sheet 8d has a mark,such as the grid 85, ruled on its upper surface. The microscope carriedby the tube i2 forms an enlarged image of the grid 85 and, when theimage to be printed lies in the plane of this grid, it is in exact focusat Ithe plane of the sensitized layer 4of the printing paper. 'Ihemicroscope is preferably of sufficient power to resolve the image of thegrain of the film to be enlarged and hence focus is obtained with a highdegree of accuracy.

My new veasel can of course be used with any projection enlarger and thepositioning mechanism is of great advantage even in the making ofcontact prints. In projection printing, the projector is focussed usingthe focussing sheet and the microscope before any paper is placed on theplate I6. After the projector is focussed, the sheet 84 is removed andthe printing paper -s substituted. This printing paper is then suitablypositioned and masked as set forth above. From the foregoing, it will beapparent that I am able to attain the objects of my invention andprovide a photographic printing easel which insures proper focus of theprojected image and proper positioning and masking of the photosensitivesheet. Various modifications can of course be made without departingfrom the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A printing easel comprising a hollow base having a ilat top surfacefor receiving a photosensitive sheet, said surface having twomutuallyperpendicular slots therethrough, a track pivotally mounted within saidbase adjacent and parallel to each slot, a lug slidably mounted on eachtrack and projecting upward through each slot to engage the edgesof-said sheet and peek tion same on said surface, means for resilientlyurging each lug upward, a frame pivotally mounted on said base along oneedge of said surface and extending around said surface, and a pluralityof masking plates movably mounted on said frame for pressing the edgesof said sheet at against said surface and pressing said lugs down to theplane of said surface.

2. A printing easel comprising a hollow base having a at surface forreceiving a photo-sensitive sheet, said surface having a pair of spaced,parallel slots therethrough, a U-shaped track pivotally secured at itfree ends within said base and extending parallel and adjacent to saidslots, a carriage slidably mounted on said track, two upstanding lugs onsaid carriage, one in alinement with each slot, means for resilientlyurging said lugs upward through said slots for engaging the edge of aphoto-sensitive sheet to position said sheet on said surface, saidsurface having a third slot therethrough substantially perpendicular tosaid pair of slots, a second track pivotally secured within said baseand having a portion ex tending parallel and adjacent to said thirdslot, a second carriage slidably mounted on said portion, a thirdupstanding lug on said second carriage in alinement with said thirdslot, means for resiliently urging said third lug upward y through saidthird slot for engaging the edge of said photo-sensitive sheet toposition said sheet on said surface, a frame pivotally mounted on saidbase along one edge of said surface, said frame having an arm parallelto said pair of slots and a second arm parallel to said third slot, anda pair of parallel masking plates adjustably mounted on each arm tooverlie the edges of a photo-sensitive sheet positioned by said lugs.

3. A printing easel comprising a hollow base having a ilat surface forreceiving a photo-sensitive sheet, said surface having a centralaperture therethrough, a microscope mounted within said base andextending parallel to said surface from said aperture to an observationpoint outside the connes of said base, means mounted within said basefor directing light entering through said aperture along the opticalaxis of said microscope, a plurality of stops yieldably extending upwardfrom said surface for engaging the edges of a photo-sensitive sheet toposition said sheet on said surface over said aperture, and a pluralityof masking strips adiustably carried by said base for engaging the faceof said sheet and pressing said sheet again said surface.

4. A printing easel comprising a hollow base having a fiat surface forreceiving a photo-sensiaasmeo 'tive sheet, said surface having a centralaperture therethrough, a focussing target carried by said surface abovesaid aperture, light deiiecting means secured within said base beneathsaid aperture for deecting light from said aperture substantiallyparallel to said surface, a microscope objective mounted within saidbase in alinement with said light deflecting means for forming an imageof said target, means carried by said base 'and extending beyond theconfines of said base in alinement with said objective for observingsaid image, said surface having a slot extending therethroughsubstantially parallel to the axis of said objective, a track pivotallymounted within said base adjacent and parallel to said slot, a lugslidably mounted on said track, said lug having a portion adapted toproject upward through said slot to engage one edge of a photo-sensitivesheet and position said sheet on said surface, said surface having asecond slot therethrough substantially perpendicular to the first namedslot, a second track pivotally mounted within said base adjacent andparallel to the second slot, a second lug slidably mounted on saidsecond track, said second lug having a portion adapted to extend upwardthrough said second slot to engage the edge of said photo-sensitivesheet and position said sheet on said surface, and a plurality ofmasking plates adjustably carried by said base-above said surface tooverlie the edges of said sheet.

5. A printing easel comprising a hollow base having a flat surface forreceiving a photo-sensitive sheet, said surface having an aperturetherethrough, a transparent plate fixed in said aperture with its topsurface substantially flush with said flat surface, means for supportinga focussing mark over said plate and above the plane of said surface byan amount equal to the thickness of a photo-sensitive sheet, lightdeflecting means within said base for directing light from said aperturesubstantially parallel to said flat surface, an objective lens mountedwithin said base in alinement with said light defiecting means forforming an image of a focussing mark carried by said supporting means,said base having an aperture therethrough facing said lens and lightdeilecting means, and an eyepiece carried by said base in alinement withsaid last named aperture for receivingsaid image.

6. A printing easel comprising a hollow base having a flat surface forreceiving a. photo-sensitive sheet, said surface having an aperturetherethrough, a. transparent focussing sheet removably carried by saidsurface above said aperture, said focussing sheet having substantiallythe thickness of the photo-sensitive sheet, a. mark on the top surfaceof said focussing sheet, light deilecting means mounted withinsaid'basev beneath said aperture for receiving light from said mark anddirecting it substantially parallel to said flat surface, an objectivelens mounted in said base in alinement with said light deflecting qu wmeans for forming an image of said mark, an opening in said base inalinenient with said objective lens, a reflector carried by said base inalinement with said opening for directing the image forming rays fromsaid lens upward past said nat surface, and an ocular carried by saidbase for observing said image.

7. A printing easel comprising a supporting wall having an openingtherethrough, a flat plate carried by said wall for receiving aphoto-sensitive sheet, said plate having an aperture therethrough, afocussing mark carried by said plate above said aperture, a tube securedon the bottom of said plate beneath said aperture and projecting throughthe opening in said wall, said tube having an aperture in alinement withthe aperture in said plate, a reflector mounted in said tube beneathsaid apertures for directing light from said apertures along said tube,an objective lens mounted in said tube for forming an image of saidmark, and an ocular carried by said plate in alinement with said openingfor observing the image formed by said objective lens.

8. A photographic printing easel comprising a hollow base having a natsurface for receiving a photosensitive sheet, said surface having acentral aperture therethrough, a microscope mounted within said base andextending from said aperture and parallel to said flat surface to anobservation point beyond the confines of said base, means mounted withinsaid base for directing light entering said aperture to said microscope,a pair of brackets mounted within said base, one on each side of saidmicroscope, a U-shaped track pivotally mounted in said brackets andextending parallel to said microscope and said fiat surface to a pointbeyond said aperture, said surface having a pair of slots therethroughparallel to said track, a carriage slidably mount ed on said track, apair of lugs on said carriage projecting upward through said slots abovesaid surface to engage the edge of a photosensitive sheet, means forresiliently urging said carriage upward toward said surface, a framepivotally at one edge of said base and extending around said base, and aplurality of masking strips adjustably mounted on said frame forengaging a photosensitive sheet and pressing it against said ilatsurface.

9. A printing easel comprising a fiat plate for receiving aphoto-sensitive sheet, said plate havlng an aperture therethrough, meanssecured to said plate for holding said plate in spaced relation to asupport, a focusing mark carried by said plate above said aperture,means secured to said plate beneath said aperture for directing lightpassing through said aperture beneath and parallel to said plate, anobjective lens positioned in the path of the light from said apertureand an ocular carried by said plate adjacent the edge thereof and inalignment with said objective for observing the image formed by saidobjective.

GUSTAVE FASSIN.

